Old apricot blossoms yellow Hanoi’s flower market as Tet nears

The yellow apricot blossom tree is priced at 4 billion VND. Yellow apricot blossoms, a traditional symbol of Tet in southern Vietnam, are now on display in many cities and provinces accross the country ahead of the celebration. During Tet, also known as the Lunar New Year festival due in February, many Vietnamese families use the plants and flowers to decorate their houses in order to create a lively atmosphere and colorful touch aligned with the enthusiastic and cheerful spirits of the holiday. Most importantly, as the apricot blossom only blooms once a year in late January or early February, Vietnamese believe the blooming blossoms bring happiness and good fortune for a new year. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

The 120 years old apricot blossom tree is delivered from Hue city. The apricot blossom only blooms once a year in late January or early February, Vietnamese believe the blooming blossoms bring happiness and good fortune for a new year. In that sense, many families shop for flowers, plants, and apricot blossoms ahead of Tet in the hope of having luck in their hohou. Some of the bigger apricot trees already had their blossoms bloom due to the hotter-than-usual weather. Even though the golden flower petals beautifully reflect the sunrays, the already bloomed trees are not preferred by customers as they want the apricot blossoms to flourish at the beginning of February instead. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

The 3m tall yellow apricot bloom tree is trimmed to help the buds bloom during Tet holiday. It is said that apricot trees are a symbol of luck for a year, peach trees are considered a type of tree used to exorcise, chasing demons to bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to homeowners. In fact, the two excellent species of trees that make up the beauty of these 3 regions of Vietnam have a long-standing legend that few people know about . In southern Vietnam, apricots are one of the first trees to flower during Tet. As a result, they are seen as the embodiment of the holiday spirit. In Ho Chi Minh City, people will find many artificial renditions as well. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Tree care takers share that the yellow apricot tree is valuable because of its age and natural branches, creating beautiful shape for the tree. Each aspect of the apricot blossom also carries meaning. The individual petals, for instance, stand for one of five blessings: Longevity, wealth, peace, health and love of virtues. And the color yellow represents happiness, prosperity and good luck. So with this meaning, each household tries to buy an apricot tree or at least a small apricot flower to decorate their house. They hope to have many happiness, success, and lucky in the New Year (Photo: Vietnamplus)

It is also the first time the Tet flower market is extended to Phung Hung mural street. Phung Hung street in Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi’s Old Quarter has been revived with beautiful mural paintings recalling Hanoi in the past. It is now a favorite photo location and cultural space for city dwellers and visitors, especially during Tet festival. Under a community art exchange project funded by the Korea Foundation, UN-Habitat, and the Hoan Kiem district People’s Committee, Vietnamese and Korean artists and the Nguyen The Son painter group drew mural paintings on the walls along Phung Hung street. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

As planned, the traditional Tet flower and other activities on Phung Hung mural street opens from January 9-24, 2020 (15th – 30th day of the twelfth Lunar month). On Phung Hung street, many paintings depict memories of Hanoi and old features that still linger in Hanoians’ minds: Hang Ma street during the Mid-Autumn festival, the Trang Tien Department Store, a street corner in the Old Quarter with street vendors and a schoolgirl on her way to school, Hanoi during Tet festival. Many painters have to research the history of the wall on Phung Hung street and the history of the Hanoi Old Quarter (Photo: Vietnamplus)

The traditional flower market opens on Ha Noi’s Hang Luoc, Hang Khoai, Hang Ruoi, Hang Ma and Phung Hung mural streets from 8h00 to 22h00 daily The city will block few of the streets in the centre of the Old Quarter to open a walking street for flower market available for locals to shop for their Tet (Lunar New Year) flowers and also attract foreign visitors to join the Tet holiday atmosphere. It is a great opportunity for travellers to grasp a glimpse of local life and cultural insight and especially great for experiencing the extra hyped up vibe during Tet festival preparation (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Since 2018, besides the traditional Tet flower market, Hoan Kiem district also introduces a mural space on Phung Hung street, creating a cultural, art and new community activity. The murals on Phung Hung street highlight fine traditional and cultural values of thousand-year-old Hanoi. Phung Hung was once a motorbike selling street. An old motorbike and a public water tap with a long queue takes people back to Hanoi in the subsidy period. Many people said the murals remind people of bygone activities in Phung Hung street and other parts of Hanoi. The community art is associated with Hanoi’s landscape and awakens memories of Hanoi. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

It’s also a chance for Phung Hung street to develop its tourism, connecting to Hanoi’s pedestrian street in Old Quarter area and the annual Tet flower market in the district. Since its debut, the mural street has drawn crowds of visitors. To many people, the murals in Phung Hung street recall the oldies of Hanoi. They are fascinating. The painters must be people who love Hanoi. People come to check out this street to see typical features of old Hanoi like the old Department Store, Hang Ma street and the atmosphere of Tet which is featured through skillful hands of painters. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Like many previous years, the traditional Tet flower market opens on Hang Luoc, Hang Ma, Hang Ruoi and Hang Khoai streets (or commonly known as Hang Luoc flower market). The Hang Luoc flower market is a long-standing famous flower market in Hanoi. Here, customers can not only buy flowers and ornamental trees but also antiques and second-hand items, making it a popular address among Hanoians during Tet.The market only convenes once a year, for a week or two weeks before Tet. In addition to organising the Tet flower market, Hoan Kiem District has organised cultural and art activities in bridge arches along the Phung Hung mural street every year since 2018 to bring the Tet atmosphere to the people. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

On Tet occasion, farmers often gather at the market to sell their flowers. In these days before Tet, no matter how crowded the flower market is, people try to visit it to catch the early spirit of spring, take some photos, and enjoy the beauty of brilliant blossoms. Perhaps people come to Hang Luoc flower market neither buy nor sell, they just come to Hang Luoc to feel the elegance and joy surrounding. Prepare for the annual flower market in Hang Luoc, flowers, lanterns, clothes, and other products have been selected, transported, and displayed on each booth, which helps visitors easily pick their favorite items. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Most of the sellers are from famous flower villages such as Ngoc Ha, Tu Lien, Nghi Tam, Nhat Tan and Quang Ba, among others. Actually, along Hang Luoc Street, there stands a typical red and yellow color of traditional Tet fulfilled and it’s also the ideal place for the young to check-in and find some souvenirs. Although it’s too crowded, the florist area is the most bustling place because cherry blossoms are the indispensable part of Tet in the North. Hang Luoc flower market not only satisfies our sight but also feed our taste by eye-catching sweeties, dried fruits, jams, and many savory street foods. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

As Tet nears, the market becomes busier, creating a festive atmosphere of the capital city. Unlike another flower market as Quang Ba, flowers will not be heaped up with small or big bunches; flowers in Hang Luoc market will be chosen meticulously from flower villages around and displayed finely. Traditional flowers are popular here such as peach flowers, kumquats, dahlias, violets, gladioluses, narcissuses. Hang Luoc flower market in the Hang Luoc – Hang Ma – Hang Ruoi – Hang Khoai crossroad in Hoan Kiem district is a well-known destination. In old days, farmers from the flower-growing areas of Ngoc Ha, Tu Lien, Nghi Tam, Nhat Tan and Quang Ba wards brought their flowers and plants to sell in the market on the occasion of Tet. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Retailers share that prices for cherry blossoms this year are higher than previous years. Many people in Hanoi are flocking to the streets buying branches of cherry blossom to decorate their house for the last full moon of the Year The price for each branch ranges from 40,000 VND to 250,000. The demand for cherry blossom branches is increasing as the last full moon of the final lunar year and Tet (Lunar New Year) are approaching.Florists in Nhat Tan Ward usually cut out the most beautiful branches and put them on sale during this time of the year. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Traditional Tet flower market which is commonly known as Hang Luoc flower market has become an unique activity of people living in the Old Quarter in particular and Hanoi in general. The hundred-year-old Hang Luoc flower market in inner Hanoi has become more crowded and bustling with the colours of hundred types of spring flowers before the fast approaching Tet holidays. Kumquat trees and peach flowers from the flower villages of Quang Ba, Nhat Tan and Nghi Tam, along with other types of Tet flowers from famous flower villages outside of Hanoi, are brought to the market. Nowadays, Tet flowers are sold all across Hanoi, however, many Hanoi people still go to the traditional market to buy flowers and enjoy the atmosphere. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

The market also ‘imports’ other products and has been extended, making it become busier. The small street is always busy with bustling buyers and sellers from early morning to late at night. Many older people visit the market just to sample the ancient atmosphere of the old Tet of the capital city. The whole street is full of colours of hundreds of types of flowers and ornamental trees. The market only convenes once a year, for a week or two weeks before Tet. In addition to organising the Tet flower market, Hoan Kiem District has organised cultural and art activities in bridge arches along the Phung Hung mural street every year since 2018 to bring the Tet atmosphere to the people. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

However, many generations of Hanoians come to the market during the last days of the year. The age-old flower market was established in the first years of the 20th century, Hang Luoc flower market is the only market opened annually on Hang Luoc (the comb), inside Hanoi Old Quarter, it starts from the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar calendar until New Year’s Eve. Dating back to the Le Dynasty, Hang Luoc belonged to Phu Tu Hamlet and Vinh Tru Hamlet, Dong Xuan district nowadays, old Tho Xuong district, it specialized in making combs. In 1912, Hang Luoc became famous flower market of imperial Thang Long Citadel with many kinds originally from Quang Ba, Nhat Tan peach, Ngoc Ha daisies. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Amid the bustling atmosphere of Hanoi during these days, people find special leisure which hardly find in many markets. Just with a length of 264 meters connecting Hang Cot to Cha Ca, Hang Luoc flower market has existed for over 100 years from the beginning excluding New Year in 1947 due to the war. Unlike another flower market as Quang Ba, flowers will not be heaped up with small or big bunches; flowers in Hang Luoc market will be chosen meticulously from flower villages around and displayed finely. Traditional flowers are popular here such as peach flowers, kumquats, dahlias, violets, gladioluses, narcissuses. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

The 2020 Lunar New Year is approaching and apricot blossoms flaunt their colors on many streets. From the 15th to 30th days of the last lunar month, Hang Luoc street becomes a bustling flower market where Hanoians come to buy flowers as the peach branches and kumquat trees selected carefully from traditional villages around Hanoi as Tu Lien, Nhat Tan, Ngoc Ha, and Quang Ba.In these days before Tet, no matter how crowded the flower market is, people try to visit it to catch the early spirit of spring, take some photos, and enjoy the beauty of brilliant blossoms. Perhaps people come to Hang Luoc flower market neither buy nor sell, they just come to Hang Luoc to feel the elegance and joy surrounding (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Through traditional Tet flower market activity, Hoan Kiem District expects to have an opportunity to promote and introduce Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year and traditional products to domestic and foreign tourists. Prepare for the annual flower market in Hang Luoc, flowers, lanterns, clothes, and other products have been selected, transported, and displayed on each booth, which helps visitors easily pick their favorite items. Actually, along Hang Luoc Street, there stands a typical red and yellow color of traditional Tet fulfilled and it’s also the ideal place for the young to check-in and find some souvenirs. Although it’s too crowded, the florist area is the most bustling place because cherry blossoms are the indispensable part of Tet in the North. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Hang Luoc flower market not only satisfies our sight but also feed our taste by eye-catching sweeties, dried fruits, jams, and many savory street foods. Hanoi within a month before Tet holiday has become more bustling than other days, but to find the authentic taste of Tet besides Hang Luoc flower market, people are suggested a few places for the unforgettable experience. Buying a peach blossom branch and a kumquat tree to decorate for Tet is a long-time tradition of the Vietnamese people, especially in the North. A week or two before Tet, seasonal flower markets open in multiple locations around Hanoi, of which the flower market in Hang Luoc Street in the Old Quarter seems to be the most exciting and crowded (Photo: Vietnamplus)

This activity expects to create a driving force to boost tourism development in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi’s Old Quarter area, making the areas a ‘safe-friendly-quality-attractive’ destination.Hanoians go to the flower market not only to buy flowers but also to enjoy the market’s atmosphere. Many people visits the Hang Luoc market every Tet. People come to the market to buy peach blossoms and kumquat trees and to see whether this year’s flowers are beautiful or not, which depends on the weather. To visit the flower market is to feel the spring atmosphere. In addition to square sticky rice cakes, peach blossoms and kumquat trees make Hanoi Tet more memorable. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

The Tet flower market typifies traditional Tet in Vietnam. People come to the market to buy flowers and find some peace of mind before another busy year gets underway. Hang Luoc is actually known as one of the oldest flower markets in Hanoi that opens once a year for the country’s biggest and most important holiday, Tet, the Lunar New Year Festival. A week before the New Year, people flock to the market for fresh flowers, ornamental plants and a slew of other Tet decorations.Vietnamese people have a long tradition of offering fresh flowers to deities and their ancestors during the holiday to pray for luck and peace. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

This activity expects to create a driving force to boost tourism development in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi’s Old Quarter area, making the areas a ‘safe-friendly-quality-attractive’ destination. The Hang Luoc flower market in Hanoi’s Old Quarters is open from the 23rd day to the last day of the 12th lunar month. Here, flowers on sale are traditional ones. During Tet, it is interesting to visit the Hang Luoc flower market to buy some flowers and go for walk. In the cold weather, people go hand in hand around the market to select a peach tree that they like. Here you can find peach blossoms, violets, dahlias, and even single-petal gerbera. Though there are many exotic flowers, these traditional types of flowers are very typical of Hanoi. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

It is said that apricot trees are a symbol of luck for a year, peach trees are considered a type of tree used to exorcise, chasing demons to bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to homeowners. The 3m tall yellow apricot bloom tree is trimmed to help the buds bloom during Tet holiday. In fact, the two excellent species of trees that make up the beauty of these 3 regions of Vietnam have a long-standing legend that few people know about . In southern Vietnam, apricots are one of the first trees to flower during Tet. As a result, they are seen as the embodiment of the holiday spirit. In Ho Chi Minh City, people will find many artificial renditions as well. (Photo: Vietnamplus)